Audio too loud on my MacBook Air!

Question

Level 1

6 points

Audio too loud on my MacBook Air!

So, I just purchased my MacBook Air from Best Buy (as an Open Item since there was an awesome markdown plus coupon markdown on top of that, and 18 months financing is pretty cool too). My problem is that the sound is extremely loud on this system, especially when I have headphones plugged in. I have the master volume at the 4-5 level (out of 16, mind you), and headphones can only be set on 1 (or if using the gradual shift with Shift+Option+Vol Up/Down it would be more like .5). If I have it set to full volume, the speakers are blaring (and I'm sure I'd be permanently deaf if I tried that with headphones on). This is my first Apple laptop, and I don't have this issue with my iMac (but I've got a pretty decent set of external speakers hooked up to that, so if there is an issue I don't notice it).

I tried fiddling with the sound in the System Preferences, but all I have access to is the Alert Volume slider and the Output Volume slider (which I found is the same as using the volume hot keys). And for the Output preferences tab, I can select the headphones, but all it gives me is a balance slider, no individual volume control for them.

I've been googling and searching this issue in this Support Forum, but most of what I'm finding is about the system having the opposite problem (extremely low audio), and the few that seem to have the same problem as I do aren't really getting a definitive answer. I thought I saw one where somebody had this problem and took it into an Apple store, where they popped the laptop open and noticed that something wasn't hooked up correctly (wires hooked up wrong, or something like that). But I can't find that particular thread anymore, so I'm a bit uncertain on that - anybody know where that thread is and can I have a link?

I'm wondering if this particular MacBook Air was returned because of this sound issue. Should I take my MacBook Air in to get it looked at? And if so, should I just go into a full Apple store rather than the Geek Squad (which is more PC oriented)? I did purchase a Geek Squad Black Tie plan, mostly for the accidental coverage. (I'm a klutz).

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 27, 2011 2:38 AM

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Answer 1

kyuohki Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 27, 2011 9:33 AM in response to Mario_MM

I tried that, but it's still very loud (all it really seemed to do was reset the level to around 8, and I had to hit mute it was so loud.)

Other than this sound issue, I'm really liking my MBAir. Should I just give in and take it to get it looked at? Note that I've never had to take my iMac into service before, and have only been a Mac user for a year and a half. Does taking this into an Apple store cost me anything? There's a reason why I got this at Best Buy rather than an Apple store - financing is pretty darn good at 18 mo no interest. (I also work at Best Buy, and honestly it would be easier travel-wise if I took it into the Geek Squad, but if y'all recommend that I should take it into an actual Apple store I wouldn't have a problem with it.)

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Answer 2

Mario_MM

Level 3

745 points

Sep 27, 2011 10:07 AM in response to kyuohki

kyuohki wrote:

I tried that, but it's still very loud (all it really seemed to do was reset the level to around 8, and I had to hit mute it was so loud.)

It was worth a shot, however if resetting does not work it really could be a hardware defect.

Other than this sound issue, I'm really liking my MBAir. Should I just give in and take it to get it looked at? Note that I've never had to take my iMac into service before, and have only been a Mac user for a year and a half.

I guess this issue popped up right after you bought it and you have it only for a few days. I would try to get it replaced at no cost.

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Answer 3

kyuohki Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 27, 2011 4:16 PM in response to Mario_MM

I think I might have figured out why the volume is bothering me.

On my iMac, I have a decent set of Creative external speakers hooked up and it has an external volume/bass controler w/ headphone jack. I've set up the volume on the speakers to a comfortable level, and use the iMac internal sound control to do minor editing - which is normally set around 11 out of the 16 "notches" and that way I can increase/decrease w/o fiddling with my Creative volume control.

But when I unplug those speakers out of my iMac, I end up with the insane volume that I'm not used to (I jumped when the sound played and had to mute it. XD I think I should start video logging my troubleshooting for the lulz.) I also figured out that the system remembers the sound levels when you plug/unplug headphones/external speakers. Very handy. :3

So, I'm just used to having a fine tuned control over my sound, and when I started playing on my MBAir, I thought something was wrong. I'm probably just going to go get myself a really good set of headphones that have a volume control on them so I can get the same results I get from my iMac.

Thanks for the help! <3 I'll let y'all know if I run into anymore problems!

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Answer 4

Mario_MM

Level 3

745 points

Sep 27, 2011 5:05 AM in response to kyuohki

One thing that could help is resetting the PRAM since speaker volume is stored there:

Just follow the instructions given here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379 https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

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